Solomon Meek - Son of James and Anna (Cooper) Meek

The Children of James and Anna (Cooper) Meek

Samuel Meek (great-grandfather) 1824 - 1902

*David Cooper Meek (Samuel's twin) 1824 - 1901

Enoch Meek #1 1825 - 1901

                     Hiram   1826/7 - 1909  (Elizabeth's twin)

Elizabeth  1826/7 -1907 
Seth     1827 - 1845

Sidnah  1830 - 1872
James  1833 - 1865

Ednah  1834 - 1910

John  1836 - ?

Beulah  1837 - 1912

Enoch #2   1840 - 1864

*Solomon  1842 - 1917

Solomon Meek was born on September 24, 1842 in Columbiana County, Ohio, to James and Anna Meek.  He lived with his mother until her death and he never married.  After that, he and his sister, Elizabeth, came to Defiance County, Ohio, to join the other siblings who had already moved here.  He was the last survivor among his brothers and sisters, passing away on February 28, 1917.

"SOL MEEK DIES VERY SUDDENLY

Was Driving Rig to Farm on Defiance Avenue When Last Call Came

Citizens were greatly shocked Wednesday morning to learn that Sol Meek had died suddenly while on his way to his farm.

The death occurred about nine o'clock, and when the rig was about at the former Adam Good farm on the Defiance Avenue.

He was driving at the time, James Sensenbacher being with him in the buggy.  He practically made no struggle, death coming to him in the flash of an eye.

Mr. Sensenbacher at once turned about and took the remains to the Sensenbacher home on West Edgerton street where funeral arrangments are now being made.

Deceased was a splendid citizen and possessed a host of friends.  He was seventy-five years old last September and had always lived single, possessing no family."

(James was his nephew, son of Solomon's sister, Beulah.)

 Solomon's obituary best tells his life story.  Published in the Hicksville Tribune on March 8, 1917:

"MEEK 

Solomon Meek was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, September 24, 1842, and departed this life at Hicksville, Ohio, February 28, 1917, aged 74 years, 5 months, 4 days.  

His father was James Meek and his mother, prior to her marriage, was Ann Cooper.  He was the youngest of a family of 14 children, all of whom are now dead.

When but three years old, he lost his father by death.  He came of a sturdy, rugged, big-brawned, law-abiding, self respecting people who walked in the ways of righteousness and feared no man.  When but 12 years of age in the family of his widowed mother, he assumed the arduous duties that belonged to a good father and loving husband of a pioneer farm home of three score years age.  He and his mother resided together on a farm in Columbiana County until her death in 1876.  

He and his mother reared three children of a deceased sister.*

Although he never married in the performance of service which he so well rendered to his mother and his sister's children, he fulfilled duties performed by husband and father.

Four of his brothers were in the Federal army during the Civil war, two of whom died while in such service.  Upon his mother's death, he came to Hicksville township and purchased an 80 acre tract of land which was heavily timbered.  This farm he cleared, tiled, fenced and improved, converting it into a productive farm.  This farm he owned at the time of his death. It was while on the way to this farm that he died.

He was a kind, frank, sincere man, open, manly and honorable in all his dealings in life.  His devotion to his mother and the motherless children of his deceased sister was a worthy example of family love to those in the community where he lived.  In the conversion of his farm from thick wood into a well-improved farm, he rendered the world an excellent service.

He was preeminently a modest and God-fearing man.  The world is better by his having lived.  The lesson we inherit from his life in this community was his industry, frugality, poise, silence, performance of duty and kindness of heart.  Many nephews and nieces and friends mourn the departure.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Rev. C. A. Moore delivering the funeral address.  The remains were placed in a vault at Forest Home Cemetery, burial to be in the spring.

CARD OF THANKS

We take this means in a small way (to) express our gratitude to our friends and neighbors for their kindly sympathy and help in our sad bereavement.  Also to the quartet for their sweet songs and Brother Moore for the comforting words.

Nephews and Nieces of Solomon Meek."

Solomon and William Oscar Meek - Emily's Brothers

Solomon, the second son of Samuel and Eliza (Fuller) Meek lived a short life, dying at the age of 20.  Born on January 5, 1861, near Hicksville, Ohio, Solomon spent his brief life on the farm with his parents and siblings, working as a farm laborer. He never married.  He died on November 20, 1881, the cause of death currently unknown.  
Solomon was buried at the Six Corners Cemetery north of Hicksville near his parents and several other siblings.

Photo courtesy of www.findagrave.com 

 Typhoid fever took the life of Samuel and Eliza's third son, William Oscar Meek.  Born on July 23, 1863, William also spent his life on the home farm and never married.  He died on August 27, 1897 at the age of 34.
His obituary appeared in a Hicksville, Ohio paper:

"OBITUARY
Died at his home near Hicksville, Friday, Aug. 27, 1897, William O., son of Samuel and Eliza Meek.  Aged 34 years, 1 month and 4 days.  He was ill but a short time with typhoid fever and his unexpected death was a sad bereavement to his many friends and relatives.  He had always lived in this vicinity and was known and respected by all as a man of intelligence and truthfullness, and in the midst of his labors was always calm and serene.  Funeral from the Fairview U. B. church by Rev. Thomas after which the remains were interred in the cemetery near by.  He leaves a father, a mother, four brothers, one sister and a host of friends to mourn this departure.  J. C. Wilderson had charge of the remains."

Photo courtesy of www.findagrave.com

  We can only imagine how their only sister, Emily, mourned the loss of these two older brothers.  She would have been about ten years old when she lost her brother, Solomon, and sixteen when William died.